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Dumbo Octopus, deep water life, and strategic egg-laying

Writer: Jada Andersen
Jada Andersen
Feb 3, 2021
2 min read

Octopuses. We all love them right? How could you not with those cute little suckers?!


Well, this Wacky Wednesday we are featuring the world’s deepest living genus of octopus, the Dumbo Octopuses!


Quick Facts:

  • Scientific name: Grimpoteuthis genus

  • Geographic location: Worldwide in cold, deep (1,000 to 7,000 metre) water

  • Distinguishing feature: large fins resembling the ears of Disney’s Dumbo

  • Conservation status: Least Threatened


Being a part of the umbrella octopus family (Opisthoteuthidae) Dumbo Octopus come in all shapes and sizes, with 17 species currently known to scientists. What they all have in common, is little fins on the sides of their body which resemble the elephant ears of Disney’s Dumbo. Using these fins to help them propel forward, they are pretty easy to identify.


Dumbo Octopus eat small deep-water creatures such as crustaceans, bivalves, worms and copepods. To catch prey, they sneak up on them, pounce, and swallow them whole. Since they do not have many serious threats or predators, the Dumbo Octopus does not produce any ink.


Since they live in water as deep as 7,000 metres, they don’t require much vision. However, they have white patches above their eyes which are said to be used for light detection.


When Dumbo Octopus are ready to reproduce, the female will already be carrying multiple eggs, ready for a male to deposit its sperm packet. If conditions aren’t ideal for hatching her young, the female can choose to store the packet until the environment is more appropriate.


When she is ready, she will lay her eggs on a rock and wait until they hatch. As soon as they have, she will leave. Juvenile octopus are born fully competent and capable of living without their parents.


Whilst Dumbo octopus tend to only live for 3 to 5 years, a short life is not unusual for other octopus species.


Watch this video of a remote vehicle, controlled by research scientists, exploring an underwater volcano. Listen to the research scientists share their excitement when they come across a Dumbo Octopus!



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